Bristol City vs Luton Town FC (15th Sep 2021)

Report | Bristol City 1-1 Luton Town

Hylton nets his first Championship goal - and first for two-and-a-half years - as Hatters take a deserved point

Danny Hylton netted his first goal in the Championship in injury-time to earn the Hatters another fully deserved point on the road at Bristol City tonight.

Town trailed to a second-half Nathan Baker header, despite producing a terrific first half performance in which several great chances to take the lead were spurned.

Hylton, who has undergone three knee operations in the last three seasons and then suffered a serious bout of covid after working hard to regain fitness this summer, came off the bench to tap in a 92nd-minute equaliser as Nathan Jones' side fought back for an injury-time point for the second game in a row.

When initially naming his team, manager Jones made five changes from the side that drew 2-2 at Blackburn, with Saturday's two-goal hero Luke Berry starting in midfield alongside Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Henri Lansbury, the latter of whom featured against the club he left in the summer.

There were due to be three changes in defence, with captain Sonny Bradley selected to make his first start of the season, whilst Amari’i Bell and Tom Lockyer returned to the eleven - although for the second game in a row, a late change was needed moments before kick-off, with Kal Naismith back in as skipper at the heart of defence instead of Bradley.

There was also a space on the bench for Danny Hylton for the first time this season, the striker having fought back from a knee operation and covid to win his way back into the matchday squad.

Both sides had opportunities to open the scoring in an end-to-end first 15 minutes, Lockyer blocking a Cameron Pring effort in the opening 45 seconds before Cameron Jerome forced a near post block and James Bree fired inches over from 25 yards out at the end of a succession of right-wing corners at the other end.

Harry Cornick had the Hatters' best chance of that period, racing onto a slide-rule pass from Lansbury to call home keeper Dan Bentley into a fine save, before Alex Scott sent a misjudged header over Simon Sluga's bar and Andreas Weimann saw a shot blocked by a combination of Naismith and Reece Burke.

There were only 18 minutes on the clock when Nathan Baker sent a header wide for the home side, just before Cornick was stretching the Robins' defence once more, latching onto Bree's nod on from a sumptuous cross-field ball from Lansbury, only for his low cross to be turned behind for a corner right in front of Bentley's goal.

The Hatters created four glorious chances in quick succession to open the scoring around the 33rd minute, Lansbury stinging Bentley's palms from distance, Berry unable to steer the rebound home, before Mpanzu rattled the crossbar and Jerome glanced a header narrowly wide.

City boss Nigel Pearson was quick to make a tactical switch, replacing right-sided midfielder Scott with experienced forward Nahki Wells eight minutes before the break. They were soon on the attack, Tomas Kalas firing just wide with a 20-yard volley and Bree having to produce a perfectly timed sliding clearance as Pring prepared to unleash a volley at the far post.

Jerome had another golden chance to break the deadlock a minute before the interval, Cornick again tormenting the hosts' back four and pulling a low cross back into the veteran striker's path, but Bentley pawed his right-footed shot away before Lockyer hit the post with a volley from Cornick's cross two minutes into added time.

City made another change down their right side at half-time, taking off Zak Vyner and bringing Jay Dasilva on.

It was the Hatters who started in the ascendancy however, Cornick blazing a volley high over the crossbar from a tight angle within a couple of minutes of the restart.

But it was the hosts who were soon in the lead, Baker meeting Dasilva's left-wing free-kick with a glancing header that gave Sluga no chance.

Jones introduced Elijah Adebayo and Hylton for Cornick and Jerome soon after the hour, with both front men appearing to struggle with injuries having run themselves into the ground.

It was Bell who had the first sight of goal in the attempted comeback, however, Adebayo setting the left-back up for a shot into the side-netting, before Jones brought on Carlos Mendes Gomes in place of Berry ten minutes later.

The former Morecambe man soon created a chance for Bree to head back at the far post, before he forced Bentley into a smart save himself, tipping over the forward's fierce shot from a tight angle on the left.

Mendes Gomes was making inroads, and Hylton almost got on the end of his 77th-minute right-wing cross, but he had to wait another 15 minutes for his golden opportunity to arrive.

It was the moment he had waited almost two-and-a-half years for, Adebayo challenging Bentley and the ball finding its way to Mendes Gomes, who rolled it along the face of goal for Hylton to knock it over the line from all of a yard.

It was the simplest, but arguably the most popular of the 59 he now has in 149 appearances in a Luton Town shirt as "Super, super Dan" rang out from the 572 travelling Hatters behind the goal.

Goals:

City: Baker 57

Town: Hylton 90+1

Attendance: 16,878 (572 Hatters)

Nathan Jones delighted with last-minute equaliser!

Nathan Jones said this evening’s 1-1 draw with Bristol City was ‘bittersweet’, believing that his side did more than enough to earn all three points.

Danny Hylton rescued a late point off the bench in the 90th minute, the second match in succession that Town have come from behind to earn a point in the dying embers.

Reflecting post-match, Jones said: “It is bittersweet because you couldn’t have gone in and hammered them because they have been excellent, right up until the finish we have been absolutely superb.

“We gave one silly free-kick away and they punished us and they can do that because they score 65 per cent of their goals from set-plays. A big thing for me tonight was we were the only side with any flow, every time they had a set play or a throw-in, it takes them a minute to get the ball, then a minute to clean it so it was about playing off second balls.

“We had to create the tempo as the away side and I was really proud that we did that tonight because it should have been three or four at half-time, we should have been out of sight. I don’t mean to be disrespectful because Bristol City are a good side, manager is excellent but tonight we should have been out of sight.

“They scored with their only chance and I’m so pleased that we showed character once again to come back and score late. The game changers all contributed, Elijah, Carlos crosses is and Danny scores it."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri3wDcZfXQk – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIKVa5yz8xE – reverse angle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr1-XsF4gWQ – NJ interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTllzn24zuc – Danny Hylton interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z5Gj12I4To – Hylton goal reverse angle

Hylton scores his first ever Championship goal to rescue a point for wasteful Hatters

Championship: Bristol City 1 Luton Town 1

Town striker Danny Hylton scored his first goal in well over two years as Luton netted a stoppage time equaliser for the second game running to earn a last-gasp point at Bristol City this evening.

The Hatters looked like they would be heading back to Bedfordshire empty-handed, after a wasteful evening in front of goal, with a whole host of chances created and missed, as they appeared to be on the verge of defeat when Nathan Baker netted just before the hour mark.

But with the officials putting four minutes on the board, Town's three substitutes combined, Elijah Adebayo causing a nuisance in the area and Carlos Mendes Gomes' cross tapped home by Hylton from a matter of yards for his first goal since March 2019.

With City not tasting victory in front of their own fans since January, hopes were high for Nathan Jones' side going into the game, the Town boss making five changes from Saturday's thrilling 2-2 draw at Blackburn Rovers, as goalscoring hero Luke Berry was in for a first start since the 1-0 win over Watford in March.

He was originally joined by club captain Sonny Bradley, Tom Lockyer, Amari'i Bell and Henri Lansbury, the latter part of the Robins side who lost 3-2 to Luton back in April.

However, as had happened at the weekend with Admiral Muskwe, Town had to make a change ahead of kick-off, Bradley missing out with Kal Naismith replacing him in the starting 11.

With Allan Campbell and Dan Potts out injured, Gabe Osho and Carlos Mendes Gomes dropped to the bench, where they were joined by Hylton for the first time since March, Dion Pereira also a late call-up following Bradley's withdrawal.

Naismith almost put Town in trouble immediately, as his pass was straight to an opponent, forcing Lockyer into a hurried block as the hosts looked to start on the front foot.

Luton, and Naismith, began to settle though, a good move on the right finding Berry in space and his low cross was met Jerome, deflected behind, the striker having another snapshot cleared, with James Bree's 25-yarder rising over the bar.

An open first 15 minutes saw Alex Scott get his header all wrong from Cameron Pring's industrious run and cross, while Lansbury sprung Harry Cornick away on the right with a wonderful pass out of defence, the attacker forcing Dan Bentley into a stop with the angle always narrowing.

Han-Noah Massengo then broke into the area as Lockyer bravely blocked, while Tomas Kalas soon wound up one of his highly effective long throws, after almost a minute of towelling the ball down, Pring's header easy for Simon Sluga.

Lansbury, looking to dominate at his old club, pinged a glorious crossfield ball wide to Bree who found Cornick, the attacker's low cross cleared away for another set-piece.

Just after the half hour, Town then created three chances in the space of 60 seconds which really should have seen them break the deadlock.

First Lansbury's 20-yard rasping drive was parried by Bentley, the rebound falling to Berry just eight yards out, who miskicked with the goal gaping.

Then, Mpanzu did well to fashion a shooting opportunity, crashing against the bar, with the follow-up cross glanced wide of the target by Jerome.

Kalas, after his continued considerable and lengthy towelling efforts when launching his throws, which was a cause of frustration for Town boss Nathan Jones, put an ambitious volley from 22 yards wide of the target.

Luton then missed another gilt-edged chance when Cornick did superbly on the left to put the ball on a plate for Jerome, but the Town attacker from a mere eight yards out, side-footed straight at Bentley, who pulled off a fantastic point blank save.

On the stroke of half time, Cornick deliberated over a throw, as the towel for Luton players had mysteriously disappeared, told to play on by the officials, with the move eventually seeing Luton denied by the woodwork again, Lockyer's angled volley crashing against the frame of the goal.

The visitors kept on creating opportunities after the break, Cornick hammering a left footed volley over, while they were then made to pay on 57 minutes when a free kick from the left was driven into the area and Nathan Baker rose highest to find the bottom corner.

With Jerome cramping up on a charge forward, he was replaced by Adebayo midway through the half, while Hylton came on for Cornick as Town swapped their front two in search of what was now an equaliser.

Adebayo set up a good chance on 72 minutes, as his threaded pass found the advancing Bell who fluffed his lines, shooting tamely wide.

Jones threw on Mendes Gomes for the final 15 minutes and he almost made an immediate impact, Bree reaching Bell's deep cross at the far post, the subs effort charged down, while his cross-shot was flipped over by Bentley.

However, as time ticked down, the Hatters showed yet again they are never beaten, with Hylton on target from a matter of yards to score his first ever Championship goal in front of the jubilant travelling faithful.

Robins: Dan Bentley ©, Rob Atkinson, Matty James, Chris Martin, Andreas Weimann, Cameron Pring (Andy King 80), Nathan Baker, Tomas Kalas, Zak Vyner (Jay Dasilva 46), Alex Scott (Nahki Wells 38), Han-Noah Massengo.

Subs not used: Max O'Leary, Jay Dasilva, Tyreeq Bakinson, Antoine Semenyo, Kasey Palmer.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, James Bree, Amari'i Bell, Reece Burke, Tom Lockyer, Kal Naismith (C), Henri Lansbury, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Luke Berry (Carlos Mendes Gomes 74), Harry Cornick (Danny Hylton 63), Cameron Jerome (Elijah Adebayo 63).

Subs not used: James Shea, Dion Pereira, Glen Rea, Gabe Osho.

Bookings: Pring 37, Lansbury 84, Bree 88.

Referee: Jeremy Simpson.

Attendance: 16,878 (572 Luton).

Jones bursting with pride after Hylton nets a first goal since March 2019 to earn Town a late point

Striker finally up and running in the Championship

Town boss Nathan Jones was positively bursting with pride after striker Danny Hylton scored his first ever goal in the Championship to earn the Hatters a much deserved point at Bristol City this evening.

With the game entering stoppage time and Luton trailing 1-0 after missing a plethora of chances, it looked like the visitors would somehow be leaving Ashton Gate empty-handed.

However, Hylton, on as a 63rd minute substitute for Harry Cornick was on hand to tap home from two yards out following Carlos Mendes Gomes’ cross to level the scores and net a first goal in the second tier, and his first for the club since March 2019.

Speaking afterwards, Jones said: “I’m so proud of him because he’s been through the mire.

“Danny’s a Championship striker, I remember performances against Newcastle away, when Danny was flying that we just happened in League Two to have a Championship striker.

“Now it’s been tough on Danny with injuries, but he's shown great commitment, great desire, great character to come back and I’m so pleased for him, so proud of him.

“I could not, honestly, if my own daughter scored, I wouldn’t be any more proud than Danny scoring, I’m so proud of him and so delighted for him.”

The goal was no more than Town deserved for their efforts throughout the night as they hit the woodwork twice through Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Tom Lockyer, while Cameron Jerome missed two great chances, while Luke Berry also fluffed his lines when well placed.

Jones added: “It’s bittersweet really because you couldn’t have gone in and hammered them as they’ve been excellent, right up until finishing, we’ve been absolutely superb tonight.

“We gave one silly free kick away and they’ve punished us and they can do that as they score 65 per cent of their goals from set-plays and we know that.

“We defended them all night, a big thing for me was we were the only side with any flow.

“Any time they had a set-play or a throw-in, it takes them a minute to get the ball in, a minute to clean the ball, so it’s just playing off second balls, but we’re as the away side having to create the tempo.

“I was really proud with how we did that tonight as we should have been three or four up by half time, we should have been out of side by half time.

"I don’t mean to be disrespectful as I’m not, Bristol City are a good side, the manager is excellent but we should have been out of sight.

“Then they’ve scored with their only chance, their only chance and I’m just so pleased that once again we showed character to come back and to score late.

"Game-changers all contributed, Elijah, Carlos crosses it, Danny scores it, dream, great substitutions, what a great manager I am.”